Arturia Updates SPARK Creative Drum Machine

v1.5 offers new performance-orientated features and a library of 118 kits/1,800 instruments 03/10/12

Buying Choices

Arturia is shipping Version 1.5 of SPARK Creative Drum Machine, the latest update to its hybrid hardware/software beat production centre.
Arturia says that, from its June 2011 release, SPARK Creative Drum Machine revolutionised hands-on beat-making by cleverly combining analogue synthesis, physical modelling, and samples with the intuitive workflow of a hardware drum machine, as well as offering in-depth control over the sounds of the 30 classic analogue and digital drum machines it so successfully captured. Now, they tell us, with the introduction of Version 1.5, they have taken the art of creative rhythm programming and performance to a whole new level with a dazzling array of new performance-orientated features and a truly heavyweight library totalling 118 kits/1,800 instruments.
New to Version 1.5 is the Tune feature, allowing users to easily compose melodies on the MIDI controller's hardware drum pads and sequencer step buttons; the sample engine now enables Choke groups, so users can creatively specify samples that will cut each other off when triggered -- perfect for emulating a hi-hat 'choke', for example (whereby triggering an open-hat sample first, followed immediately by a closed-hat sample will authentically cut off the open-hat prematurely). It also offers creative modes for layering samples (circular, random, stack, threshold). The flexible FX Pad now includes the Oberheim SEM V filter featured in Arturia's Oberheim SEM V soft synth namesake, bringing, says Arturia, unique warmth and depth to those still-sought-after synth sweeps.
Version 1.5 sees SPARK Creative Drum Machine's library considerably expanded to include no less than 28 new kits exploring the current span of electronic and urban music stylings -- from euphoric EDM synths to almighty analogue dubstep kits, as well as the latest in alternative hip-hop. Arturia tells us that they have teamed up with the world's most in-demand sound designers to bring professional perfection to any production.Pricing and Availability:
SPARK Creative Drum Machine can be purchased from the Arturia online store or any dealer for €499.00 EURO/$599.00 USD
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